stop and search
A term from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP), reproduced under the Open Government Licence with a link back to the authoritative source.
Definition
A power for police to stop and search individuals or their vehicles under specific legislative frameworks.
This definition is drawn from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice. For the full operational guidance and current wording, read it at source.
Related terms
Police Reform Act 2002
An Act that provides police community support officers with powers to search for and seize alcohol and tobacco.
reasonable grounds
A standard that requires police to have justifiable belief that a person is carrying an item that constitutes a crime.
section 163
A section of the Road Traffic Act 1988 granting police authority to stop any vehicle on the road without needing specific grounds.
section 60
A section of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 allowing police to stop and search individuals in certain areas without specific suspicion.
stop and account
A practice where police may ask individuals to explain their presence or actions, not grounded in a legal power to detain.
Definition reproduced from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice under the Open Government Licence v3.0. See the source link above for the authoritative, current wording.